The Dallas Cowboys secured a 33-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 11, showcasing a revitalized defense with new additions and key returns. Quinnen Williams recorded 1.5 sacks and five quarterback hits in his debut, while DeMarvion Overshown returned from injury to bolster the unit. The win has sparked hope for a playoff push amid a tough upcoming schedule.
The Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1) delivered their most dominant performance of the 2025 season on Monday Night Football, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders (2-8) 33-16. The defense, previously allowing a league-second-worst 29.3 points per game, held Las Vegas to a season-low 16 points and tied a season high with five sacks.
Newly acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams made an immediate impact in his Cowboys debut, leading the team with 1.5 sacks and a career-high five quarterback hits. Williams, traded from the New York Jets on November 4, integrated quickly into the defensive line alongside Osa Odighizuwa. 'I wasn't surprised about their or my performance in general because in the two days we had to practice together, everybody in that defensive line room works extremely hard,' Williams said.
Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown also returned from a season-ending knee injury sustained in December 2024, playing 29 snaps and recording one tackle for loss. The 2023 third-round pick had missed his rookie year due to a preseason ACL tear but excelled in 2024 with 90 tackles, five sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown in 13 games. 'It's only up from here,' Overshown stated, emphasizing the unit's potential with additions like Logan Wilson and third-round rookie cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., who also debuted after recovering from torn ACLs.
Offensively, quarterback Dak Prescott threw four touchdowns, and wide receiver George Pickens caught a 144-yard, one-touchdown performance, contributing to the No. 2 scoring offense averaging 29.6 points per game. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer praised the team's poise: 'Last night was probably the most poised I've seen our team... we played our most consistent football in all three phases.'
The victory revives playoff hopes, though SportsLine projects just an 8.5% chance. Dallas faces a critical stretch: the Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) in Week 12 at AT&T Stadium, followed by the Kansas City Chiefs (5-5) and Detroit Lions (6-4). In a related move, the Cowboys released linebacker Damone Clark on Tuesday to activate defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey from injured reserve; Clark was claimed by the Houston Texans the next day. Schottenheimer lauded Clark: 'What an incredible young man he is... your career is just getting started.'
With defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus now having his key pieces, Overshown added, 'I think now that Flus has his guys in there... it's really only up from here.'
